Concrete block splitting machine



1957 E. GARNICH CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1955 INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYE Oct. 29, 1957 E. GARNICH 2,810,946

CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

,ZZy/Zdavzzk ATTD R N EYE v r 122% X2] Oct. 29, 1957 E. GARNICH CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VEN TOR.

1127 gar/222%;

ATTD RN EYS Oct. 29, 1957 V E. GARNICH 2,810,946

CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING MACHINE A'I'TU RN EYS United States Patent CONCRETE BLOCK SPLITTING MACHENE Emil Garnich, Egg Harbor City, N. 5.; Kathryn Garnich, administratrix of said Emil Garnich, deceased, assignor to Charles L. Maison, Olean, N. Y.

Application June 16, 1955, Serial No. 515,874

Claims. (Cl. -41) This invention relates to improvements in a machine for the manufacture of building blocks having rough and unpatterned surfaces simulative of the surfaces of building blocks formed from natural stone.

Specifically, the machine of the invention is an improvement upon the machine of the Garnich Patent No. 2,627,640 of February 10, 1953 which is characterized by a pallet utilized for the support of the concrete as it is cast in the mold and composed of a pair of hingedly connected plates which carry along their adjacent edges cooperating projecting strips to form a centrally located score along the underface of the green block. In this patented machine a mechanism is provided for lifting the pallets with the green block supported upon them to a suitable elevation above the mold whereupon rails of triangular outline are placed manually under the pallets in bridging relation to the walls of the mold. The pallet lifting mechanism is then retracted and downward pressure is manually applied to the block with the result that the block is split into two sections along a central plane which extends through the score, the pallets coming to rest on the inclined surfaces of the rails and the adjacent faces of the split sections being rough and unpatterned in simulation of the surfaces of building blocks fashioned from natural stone. When the sections have been removed from the pallets the rails are withdrawn manually and the pallets are repositioned in the mold for a further operation.

The principal object of the invention is substantially to increase the production capacity of the machine and substantially to eliminate manual operations.

With this object in view the invention contemplates a pallet composed of hingedly connected plates having the block scoring feature, means for relatively moving the pallet and the mold in a block ejecting operation when the casting has been completed in order that the green block may be supported by the pallet above the mold in a position in which it may be split into two sections, and means operative substantially at the completion of the block ejecting operation to break the pallet along the hinge connections between its plates, thereby to cause the pallet plates, supported the while by elements of the mechanism, to extend angularly relatively to one another, the molded block during the pallet breaking operation splitting into two sections along the central plane which extends through the score and the sections at all times resting upon the pallet plates.

In the construction which, as now considered, is preferred the pallet in the block ejecting operationis lifted relatively to the mold and the pallet plates are supported during the block splitting operation by the elements by which they are lifted.

A further object is to provide for molding the blocks selectively of varying thicknesses, the maximum thickness according with the depth of the mold and thicknesses less than maximum being predetermined as may be desired.

With this object in view the invention contemplates a constru tion in which, during the casting operation, the

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pallet may be supported at any predetermined elevation in the mold, the selection of the elevation predetermining the thickness of the block, and the provision for such support consisting of sets of vertical pallet engaging elements of different lengths, these elements being removably mounted in the machine and, as sets, interchangeable with one another.

in the construction which, as now considered, is preferred the provision for the support of the pallet at different elevations consists of vertical spacingbars provided in sets of different lengths and removably fitted upon the platform which provides the base of the mold.

A further object is to provide a pallet breaking mechanism which may be operated optionally either automatically or by the operator of the machine when the block ejecting operation is substantially completed. The operation of the pallet breaking mechanism by the operator of the machine may be preferred by some block manufacturers to the automatic operation of the pallet breaking mechanism in cases where the blocks are comparatively heavy, that is to say are of maximum thickness.

With this object in view the pallet breaking mechanism includes an actuating lever which, as tripped automaticall is brought into engagement with an appropriate part substantialy at the completion of the relative movement of the mold and the pallet in the block ejecting operation and as tripped by the operator is engaged by a pedal operated movable part.

In the construction which, as now considered, is preferred the pallet is raised relatively to the mold in the block ejecting operation and the lever, carried by the pallet lifting means, operatively engages a fixed part carried by the frame of the machine. When the lever is to be tripped by the operator the fixed part is backed otf and the lever is engaged by a movable pedal operated part.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the improved machine showing a form or mold positioned on a vibrating plate, a foot treadle for actuating the splitting head slidably mounted on one side of the frame and a cam with a handle for actuating the cam to elevate a pallet and splitting head, the handle being shown in broken lines in the position in which the pallet is elevated.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the block splitter with the parts as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the machine, also with the parts as shown in Figure 1, looking toward the end on which the foot treadle and mold box are positioned.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the machine with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away, this view showing the positions of the parts in which the pallet is set to form relatively thin blocks.

Figure 5 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and with parts broken away showing the material of a block split by a V-shaped head of the plunger.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the block splitting machine taken on line 66 of Figure 4 also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure '7 is a section taken on line 7- -7 of Figure 1 showing a sliding frame with a cam and roller for urging the frame with the pallet and material of the block upwardly.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4 showing the relative positions of the adjusting and elevating pins with other parts broken away.

Figure 9 is a cross section taken on line 99 of Figure 5 illustrating the vibration producing shaft whereby the platform upon which the mold is positioned is vibrated.

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting and operating elements of the V-shaped block splitting r 3 .head carried by a plunger and actuated by a pivotally mounted lever.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing a hinged pallet adapted to be positioned on pins in a mold or form.

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing one of the blocks formed by the machine.

Figure 13 is a front elevational view showing the upper part of a machine, illustrating a modification, wherein a plurality of molds'or a battery of units are combined in one machine. 7

Figure 14 is a cross section through the upper part of the machine shown in Figure 13 beingtaken on line I 14--14 of said figure.

Figure 15 is a cross section through the upper part of the mold of the type shown in Figure 14, being taken on line 15-15 thereof, illustrating a sliding cover for slidably working scoring bars into material of blocks and which also smooths the upper surfaces of blocks of material.

Figure 16 is a sectional plan, taken on line 1616 of Figure 13, showing the means for, hinging the covers of the molds shown in Figures 13, 14, and 15 to the frame shown in Figure 17 wherein a horizontally disposed plate is provided at one side of the plun er for holding one, side of a block as the other side is split therefrom.

Figure 19 is a perspective view of a pallet, similar to that shown in Figure 11, illustrating a further modification wherein triangular shaped fingers f are provided at the ends of the pallet, as shown in Figure 17, for scoring ends of blocks of material.

Figure 20 is a cross section through a pallet, somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 17 except that the upper ends of the fingers are connected with a triangular shaped rod.

Figure 21 is a longitudinal section through the pallet shown in Figure 20 being taken on line 21'21 thereof.

A preferred form of machine embodying the improvements which constitute the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 12.

The mold includes-vertical side walls 11 and 12 and end walls 13 and 14 and for the purpose of its vertical vibration, as is preferred, is mounted on a platform 10.

The pallet includes normally coplanar plates 18 and 19 connected by hinges 80 and 81 (Figure 6) and having along their spaced inner edges parts which form. a central longitudinal score in the block as molded in order that the block may be split into two sections. The mold and the pallet constitute companion elements which are movable vertically relatively to one another in the block ejecting operation. Accordingto the invention when the mold ejecting operation is completed a longitudinal splitting head 15, V-shaped in cross section, is actuated to break the pallet about its hinges and thereby to cause the splitting of the block into two sections, both supported the while by appropriate parts of the mechanism. 'The pallet breaking mechanism also includes a vertical plunger 16 which carries the head 15 and a lever 17 by which the plunger 16 is raised in its operative stroke. In the construction preferred the pallet is lifted in the block ejecting operation and the pallet breaking mechanism is carried by the pallet lifting mechanism, the head 15 being movable through an opening 43 in the mold bottom 10 and being normally in a lowered position relatively to the lifting mechanism from which it is moved upward relatively to the lifting mechanism upon the completion of the block ejecting operation. The pallet lifting mechanism may be actuated by a cam '20 mounted on a rock shaft which is preferably turned by a handle 21. The automatic operation of the head 15 is eifected by afixed pin 22 (Figure 4) operative when the block has beenejected from the mold to trip the lever 17 and eifect the operating stroke of the head 15. The lever 17 may also be actuated by a pedal operated pin 23 carried .by an arm 7 24 at the upper endof a vertically slidable bar 25 having a pedal 26 at its lower end, the pin 23 being moved downward to actuate the head 15. 7

The platform 10, in accordance with known practice,

is preferably mounted to be vibrated, itsvibration being effected by eccentrically weighted elements 28 (Figures 6 and 9) mounted on a shaft 98 which is driven by a project through openings in frame bars and are secured by nuts 42. v

In the construction preferred one end of the platform 10 is provided with spaced openings 44 (Figure 6) through which rods 45 extend and the opposite end is provided with similar openings 46 through which rods 47 extend. The lower ends of the rods 45 are mounted on a clip angle 48 carried by a bar 49 and the rods 47 are secured to a similar clip angle 50 mounted on the opposite end of the bar 49. The upper ends of the rods 45 are provided with shoes 51 on which the plates ls and 19 'of the pallet are freely positioned and the upper. ends of the rods 47 are provided with similar shoes '52 upon which the opposite ends of the plates of the pallet are positioned.

The bar 49 forms the upper end of a vertical rectangular frame F having side bars 53 and 54 which are slidably mounted in bearings 55 and 56 on inner surfaces of side plates 57 and 58, respectively, and the lower ends of the bars 53 and 54 are connected to the mold frame bar 59 (Figures 3 and 7) on which rollers 60 and 61- are rotatably mounted. 1

The rollers 60 and 61 are held against sliding movement on the bar 59 by washers 62and 63 secured by cotter pins 64 and 65. The rollers are engaged by the cams 20 which are mounted on a shaft 66 to which the handle 21 is con nected by a fitting 67, When the mold is filled to a suitable extent and the cement has settled the handle 21 is.

moved from the full line position of Figure 1 to the broken line position, thereby to effect an operative movement of a engagement with the rollers 60 and 61, limit their operative movement. It will be noted that the inner edges of the pallet plates 18 and 19 are suitably spaced and that the splitting head 15 is intermediate the hinges and 81. The frame F lifts the pallet to the upper end of the mold at which time the splitting head 15 passes to a suitable extent through the space between the edges of the' pallet plates 18 and 19 and thereby breaks the pallet along the hinge connections 80 and 81. isthus broken its plates extend downward from the hinge connections and remain supported by the shoes 51 and V tion of the splitting head 15. When the pallet is thus raised and broken two blocks 68 and 69 are formed which may'readily be removed by hand. I

The pin 22 ispositionally adjustable in order to compensate for varying thicknesses of the blocks. For this When the pallet purpose it is preferably inthe form of a screw and may be held by a lock nut 115.

The pallets may be supported selectively at different elevations above the platform in order that blocks of different thicknesses may be molded. For this purpose bars and 71 (Figure 6) may be placed upon the platform near its ends and the cement may be directly supported by plates 76 and 77 which rest upon brackets 78 carried by the pallets. The elevation at which the pallets are supported above the platform 10 may be selectively determined by vertical spacing rods provided in sets of different lengths and formed with lower pins 74 which fit in openings 72 and 73 in the respective bars 70 and 71, the upper ends of the rods 75 engaging and directly supporting the pallet plates 18 and 19.

The plates 18 and 19 of the pallet illustrated in Figure 11 are pivotally connected by hinges 80 and 81 and the inner edges of the plates 18 and 19 are provided with fianges 82 and 83, respectively, the upper edges of which are provided with inwardy inclined or beveled lips 84 and 85.

The mold end walls 13 and 14 are provided with centrally located vertical ribs 86 and 87 (Figures 6 and 8) which score the ends of the blocks, these ribs being of triangular cross section and secured by screws 88. The block is similarly scored longitudinally along its upper and lower faces, the lower face scoring being effected by the lips 84 and and the upper face scoring being effected by a rib 90 of triangular cross section which is carried by a cover plate 91. This plate is mounted for movement between an active position (Figure 4) and an inactive position (Figure 5), its \rnounting comprising a bar 94 supported by ears 95 and 96 at the ends of the mold and hinge :straps 92 and 93 formed to encircle the bar 94.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the under surface of the cover plate 91 is providel with extended letters 97, such as the trademark of a manufacturer, whereby with the green material positioned in the mold the cover plate is turned to a horizontal position upon the upper end of the mold, as shown in Figure 4, and the score bar 89 and also the letters 97 are impressed into the material.

The vibrating means is similar to that shown in my prior patents and includes a motor 27 driving a shaft 98 with a belt 99 and pulleys 100 and 101, the shaft 98 being rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 102 and 103, as shown in Figure 6, and the intermediate part of the shaft being provided with eccentrically positioned weights 28 which impart vibrations to the platform 10 upon rotation of the shaft by the motor. The shaft is retained in position by set collars 105 and 106.

The plunger 16 of the V-shaped splitting head 15 is slidably mounted in a tubular casing 107 (Figure 10) having lower terminal projections 108 and 109 for attachment by bolts 110 to the bar 43 of the frame F. The casing 107 is provided with an opening 111 from the sides of which arms 112 and 113 extend and, as illustrated in Figure 10, the lever 17, which operates the plunger 16 and splitting head 15, is pivotally mounted between the arms 112 and 113 by a bolt 114.

When blocks of a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the mold are cast it may be preferable, because of their relatively heavy weight, to operate the splitting head 15 with greater force than is required for relatively thin blocks. For such operation the pin 22 is backed off to a suitable extent and the pin 23 is utilized. The bar 25 which carries the pin 23 is mounted in frame-carried brackets 11? and 118 and is normally held elevated by a spring 123 fitted upon the pin 23. In this case when the frame F reaches its upper position the operator presses upon the pedal 26 to move the pin 23 downward into engagement with the lever 17 near its outer end, thereby to raise the plunger 16 to efiect the breaking of the pallet in the manner above described. The extent of 6 permissible downward movement of the bar 25 may be regulated by a pin 121 carried by a chain 122. The pin 121 is inserted through any one of a series of openings in the bar 25 and under the pressure of the spring 123 bears against the lower side of the bracket 117.

It will be understood that a suitable conventional switch may be provided for completing a circuit to the motor whereby the motor may be operated as desired and although the motor is shown as being mounted on a platform 124 and supported by cross beams 125 the motor may be mounted by other means and located in other suitable positions. A base 126 of the motor is secured to the platform 124 with bolts 127.

In the design illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, a battery or a plurality of molds are provided in combination wherein molds 128 and 129 with a dividing partition 130 are mounted on a platform 131 similar to the platform 10 and the platform is supported by springs 132 on a frame 133 similar to the stand of the machine shown in Figures 1 to 11 and the molds may be provided with a cover plate 134 that is adapted to extend over a plurality of molds.

Each mold is provided with a pallet including the hinged plates 18 and 19 and the ends of the pallets are positioned on shoes 135 on the upper ends of rods 136 similar to the shoes and rods shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the rods are carried by crossbars 137 on a bar 138 similar to the bar 49. I

Each of the molds is also provided with a V-shaped splitting head 139 carried by a plunger 140 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 141 and the plunger is actuated by a lever 142 similar to the lever 17, the lever being pivotally mounted in sections 143 by bolts 144. The heads 139 are positioned to pass through openings 145 in the platform 131 whereby the vertexes of the heads are positioned to enter a space 146 between the flanges 82 and 83 of the plates 18 and 19 of the pallet. The pallets are also provided with the plates 76 and 77 similar to the plates shown in Figure 5.

The frame 133 is also provided with cap screws 147 having lock nuts 148 thereon, similar to the cap screws 22, and the cap screws are adjusted to engage the extended ends of the levers 142 as the plates 76 and 77 reach the upper ends of the molds. The platform 131 is also retained in position by bolts 149 having nuts 150 on lower ends similar to the bolts 41 and nuts 42.

The lower edges of the sections 143 in which the levers 142 are pivotally mounted are provided with flanges 151 and 152 by which the plungers and splitting heads are secured to the bars 137 by bolts 153 and nuts 154.

The bar 138 is part of a rectangular frame similar to the frame F, which includes side bars 155 slidably mounted in bearings 156. By this means a plurality of blocks may be moved upwardly through the molds simultaneously by a handle, such as the handle 21. However, each mold may be actuated independently if desired.

The cover 134 is slidably mounted by bolts 157 in slots 158 of horizontally disposed arms 159 of L-shaped supports 160, and the lower ends of vertically disposed legs of the supports are pivotally connected to the frame 133 by a shaft 161 mounted in bearings 162.

The cover 134 is mounted to slide longitudinally of the molds whereby triangular shaped bars 163 are worked into the material in the molds forming scores, the sliding action making the surface of the material smooth. The cover is provided with upwardly extended ears 164 in which the lower ends of levers 165 are pivotally mounted by pins 166. The levers are pivotally mounted on tabs 167 of the arms 159 with bolts 168, as shown in Figure 14, and the upper ends of the levers are con nected to handle 169. The bolts 168 are provided with spacing sleeves which are positioned between the levers and arms. With the parts mounted in this manner, and particularly as illustrated in Figure 15, reciprocation of the handle 169 slides the plate 134 and bars 163 7 across the upper portion of material in the mold, impressing the score lines and smoothing the surface of the material.

With the cover slidably mounted and with the bars 163 positioned at points midway between the sides of the molds, the bars are in registering relation with lips of the flanges 82 and 83 of'the plates of the pallets. By this means the material of the blocks is scored in upper and lower surfaces and the ends may be scored with triangular shaped .bars'or ribs secured to the end walls, such as the bars 86 and 87 shown in Figure 6. a

As illustrated in Figures 17 and 19, the pallets may also be formed with fingers 171 and 172 extended upwardly from the ends of a flange 173 similar to the flange 82 of the palletshown in Figure 11, the flange 173 extending from the edge of a plate 174 and having a lip 175 on the upper edge. In this design the pallet is also provided with a plate 176, similar to the plate 19, and the plate 176 is provided wtih a flange 177, similar to the flange 83, and a lip 178 extends inwardly from the upper edge of the flange 177. The plates 174 and 176 are provided with spacing or Z-bars 179, similar to the bars 78.

As illustrated in Figure 17, a block formed by one section of the material, such as a block 180, may be held in a horizontal position by a plate 181 as a section 182*is split therefrom by a V-shaped splitting head 183, similar to the head 15. In this operation the fingers 171 and 172, which form the score lines at the ends of the blocks, tilt with the plate 174 and with the upper surface of the material scored with a triangular shaped bead 184 on a cover 185 the block is scored on upper and lower and end surfaces making it possible to obtain a complete split or break.

The splitting head 183 and the plate 181 are carried on the upper end of a plunger 186, similar to the plunger 16, and the plunger, which is slidably mounted in a casing 187, is actuated by a lever 18 8, similar'to the lever 17. The lever 188 is pivotally mounted by a bolt 189 in arms-190 and 191 extended from the lower end of the casing 187 and the lower end of the casing is provided with flanges 192 and 193 by which the device is mounted on a crossbar, such as the bar 138 or the bar 49. 7

The cover 185 is pivotally mounted on a rod 194 on a side wall 195 of a mold, as shown in'Figure 17, in which the mold is provided with an oppositely disposed side wall 196 and end walls 197. 'The mold is also provided with spacing rods 198, similar to the rod 75, and supporting rods 199 having'shoes 200, similar to the shoes and rods 51 and52 and 45 and 47. The mold is positioned on a platform 201, similar to the platform 10.

tion with the form shown in Figures 1 to 5 and also as illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. The fingers 202 and 203 extend from a flange 205 of a plate 206 similar to the plates 174 and 176 of the pallet shown in Figure 17, the plates being connected by hinges 207 and having spacing Z-bars 208 thereon.

With this assembly of parts, blocks of different types and designs may be formed on the same machine and the same machine may be used to form one or a plurality of blocks, and furthermore, by using transversely disposed. additional partitions, fractional blocks or blocks of different lengths may be formed in the same mold. As an illustration, a short block 8 inches long and a longer block 16 inches long may be formed in a twenty-four inch mold by using partitions with V or triangular shaped fingers or ribs on their sides and by using rods, such as the rods 75 or188 of different lengths, blocks of different thicknesses may be formed in the same mold.

ure 1, with lettering of the trademarks or names positioned on the under surface of the cover or other part of the mold.

7 In manufacturing and splitting comparatively thin blocks as illustrated in Figures 4" and 5 holding or gripping plates or covers are not required. However, with blocks in which the thickness thereof cornparatively fills the mold, such as the blocks shown in Figure 14, the L- shaped covers or holders of my prior Patent No. 2,627,640 are used for gripping-sections of the blocks. T he holders or covers of the prior patent, therefore, may or may not be used as may be desired.

A concrete block splitter mechanism'as' disclosed and described is adapted to be applied to any "conventional machine suitable for this use. e a

It will be understood that other modifications, Within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1 In a concrete block splitting machine, in combination: a mold of box-like form having vertical 'sideand end walls; a pallet fitted in slidable relation within the mold and composed of a pair of plates normally in coplanar relation and hingedly' connected along their adjacent longitudinal edges, the plates being provided with projections extending upward from their longitudinal edges and fashioned to form a central score in the block as it is molded; the mold and the pallet constituting com-.

panion elements which are movable vertically relatively to one another in the operation of ejecting the block from the mold; means for supporting thepallet at all times during the operation-of the machine; means for eflecting vertical movements of the mold and the pallet relatively to one another with resultant ejection of the block from the mold, the block as ejected being supported in a position above the mold; block splitting means including a longitudinally disposed splitting head operable by a vertical movement relative to the pallet and the mold and positioned to engage and break the pallet along the line of its hinge connections whereby the plates of the pallet as-sustained by the pallet supporting means extend at angles to one another from the hinge connections as an apex and the block, in consequence of the breaking of the pallet, splits'along the central longitudinal plane which passes through the score into two sections a which are supported upon the respective pallet plates in their angular relation, the block splitting means also including'a lever element for efiecting the vertical operative movement of the splitting head; and means operative upon the lever element at the completion of the block ejecting operation for causing an operative movement of the split ting head. a

.2. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for elfecting vertical movements of the mold and the pallet relatively to one another acts on the pallet supporting means to raise it and thereby to raise the pallet to a position in which the block is supported above the mold.

3. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for effecting vertical movements of the mold and the pallet relatively to one another acts on the pallet supporting means to raise it and thereby toraise the pallet to a position in whichthe block is supported above the mold and wherein the means. operative upon the lever element consists of a fixed part which engages the lever element upon the completion of the block ejecting operation and by such engagement automatically trips the lever element to cause an operative movement of the splitting head. V a 4. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for effecting vertical movements of the mold and the pallet relatively to one another acts on the pallet supporting means to raise it and thereby to raise the pallet to a position in which the block is supported above the mold and wherein the means operative upon the lever element consists of a movably mounted part normally spring supported in an inactive position and which is moved by the operator of the machine to engage and trip the lever element and thereby to cause an operative movement of the splitting head.

5. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for efiecting vertical movements of the mold and the pallet relatively to one another acts on the pallet supporting means to raise it and thereby to raise the pallet to a position in which the block is supported above the mold and includes a vertically movable guided element and a cam mounted for rocking movement and engaging said element to effect its vertical movement, the means for supporting the pallet is connected to and extends upward from the guided element, and the block splitting means is carried by the guided element and includes a plunger mounted for vertical movement relatively to the guided element and which extends upward from the guided element and carries the splitting head at its upper end, the plunger at its lower end being engaged by the lever element, the lever element being mounted between its ends upon a pivot pin carried by the guided element, and thereby having an inwardly extending part which engages the plunger and an outwardly extending part which is available for its actuation.

6. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein a fixed pin is provided to engage the outwardly extending part of the lever element at the completion of the lifting of the block in the block ejecting operation and thereby to trip the lever element to eifect the upward movement of the plunger and the operative stroke of the splitting head.

7. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein a vertical pin, vertically movable, is provided for engagement with the outwardly extending part of the lever element at the completion of the lifting 16 of the block in the block ejecting operation and is normally held in a raised inactive position, and a pedal carrying part is connected to the pin and is moved by the operator of the machine to eifect a downward movement of the pin with resultant tripping of the lever element.

8. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth claim 1 wherein vertical pallet engaging elements are provided in sets of different lengths, the elements being removably mounted in a supporting part of the machine and, as sets, interchangeable with one another, thereby to enable the pallet to be supported prior to the molding operation at any predetermined elevation in the mold.

9. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the mold has a bottom part formed with openings through which extend the means for supporting the pallet and the plunger of the block splitting means and wherein additional means for the support of the pallet is provided which consists of vertical pallet engaging spacing rods provided in sets of different lengths and removably mounted on the bottom part as a support, the spacing rods, as sets, being interchangeable with one another, thereby to enable the pallet to be supported prior to the molding operation at any predetermined elevation in the mold.

10. A concrete block splitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein a cover is hingedly connected to a vertical wall of the mold and has an inactive position at one side of the mold and an active position to which it is moved prior to the block splitting operation and in which it rests on the molded block, the cover being provided with a rib which in the active position of the cover forms a central longitudinal score in the upper surface of the block.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 950,811 Zurbuch Mar. 1, 1910 1,742,555 Oliver Ian. 5, 1930 2,627,640 Garnich Feb. 10, 1953 

